Surgically implanted therapeutic/diagnostic ocular optical array

Abstract

A surgically implanted ocular optical array that can be used in both therapeutic and diagnostic applications is described. A device configured to be implanted in an eye includes: an imaging system that receives visible light incoming to the eye; optical source generating circuitry that generates an optical signal based on the light received by the imaging system; and an optical phased array (OPA) that generates and projects an image onto a retina of the eye in which the device is implanted, the image being based on the optical signal generated by the optical source generating circuitry.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device configured to be implanted in an eye, comprising:
 an imaging system that receives visible light incoming to the eye;   optical source generating circuitry that generates an optical signal based on the light received by the imaging system; and   an optical phased array (OPA) that generates and projects an image onto a retina of the eye in which the device is implanted, the image being based on the optical signal generated by the optical source generating circuitry.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising control circuitry that causes the OPA to project the image onto a determined area of the retina. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the OPA projects the image onto the predetermined area of the retina using beam steering. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the determined area of the retina is a healthy area of the retina. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the control circuitry determines the determined area of the retina using a stored mapping. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the imaging system, the control circuitry, the optical source generating circuitry, and the OPA are arranged in a chip stack. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the imaging system is at a first side of the chip stack; and   the OPA is at a second side of the chip stack opposite the first side of the chip stack.   
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the device comprises a body comprising a central portion and tabs extending outward from the central portion; and   the chip stack is in the central portion.   
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 5 , further comprising a wireless communication antenna that is configured to receive wireless communication signals from outside the device. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to program the mapping based on the wireless communication signals. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 2 , further comprising a rechargeable battery that is configured to power the imaging system, the control circuitry, the optical source generating circuitry, and the OPA. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the rechargeable battery is configured to be recharged wirelessly from a charging system located outside the eye. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to be implanted in a capsular bag of the eye. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to be implanted in a ciliary sulcus of the eye. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to be implanted in a chamber of the eye anterior to the iris. 
     
     
         16 . A method comprising implanting the device of  claim 1  into the eye. 
     
     
         17 . A method of using the device of  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 causing the device to project a diagnostic image on different locations of the retina of the eye;   receiving patient feedback for each of the different locations;   creating a mapping of the retina of the eye based on the feedback; and   programming the mapping into the device.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising optimizing the mapping using artificial intelligence. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the mapping maps the retina into functional areas and non-functional areas. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the device is configured to control one or more elements of the OPA based on the mapping to project a beam onto a functional area of the retina to reduce or eliminate a scotoma caused by a non-functional area of the retina.